Fortunate Isles 7


Archivio di Stato, Venezia,
25 Inghilterra, 1624, Alvise Valaresso e Giovanni Pesaro Amb

Account of the masque in an ambassadorial dispatch sent to Venice by Giovanni Pesaro, on 24 [i.e. 14] Jan. 1625. It is numbered 24 in a parchment bound collection of letters written 1 March 1624-28 February 1625.





Domenica passata il Signor Prencipe rappresentò un nobilissimo Balletto con apparati di molte machine di una uaghissima scena; e se ui danzo' quattr'hore doppo la meza notte. Sua Maesta' u'interuenne con molto piacere.Io fui chiamato unitamente con il Signor Ambasciator di Francia.
Furono presenti li Residenti di Spagna, e di Fiandra; e si giudica, per essi, tralasciati molti intermedij burleuoli de' Spagnoli.
A questo rispetto si aggionge una uoce generale, che Gondomar ritorni; et il rumore di questa uenuta, e’ per uerita', o' per artificio, sempre cresce.

Translation

Last Sunday the Prince staged a most noble masque with much machinery and most beautiful scenery. They danced for four hours after midnight.His Majesty was present and enjoyed it greatly. I was invited together with the French ambassador. The residents of Spain and Flanders were present and it is believed that on their account many interludes about the Spaniard were omitted. In this connection, there is a widespread rumor that Gondomar is coming back; this rumor grows stronger either from its truth or by design.

Bibliography
CSPV 1623-1625, 564-5
Bentley (1941-68), 4.643